Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Montgomery County

545 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Montgomery County by USDA PLANTS. 235 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Montgomery County, Kentucky

Native species: 545 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 235 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 545 native species): Percent of the 545 native species in each growth type

Tree 15% (80)
Shrub 5% (27)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (274)
Grass or grass-like 21% (114)
Vine 6% (30)
Fern 4% (20)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 235

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Montgomery County, Kentucky
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Bailey's dewberry Rubus baileyanus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla	Wildflower (forb)	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
black maple Acer nigrum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus	Wildflower (forb)	2.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
cattail sedge Carex typhina	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	36 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Tree	105 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Tree	150 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Georgia bulrush Scirpus georgianus	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden ragwort Packera aurea	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	Tree	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Tree	45 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum	Shrub	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
spring avens Geum vernum	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
twisted sedge Carex torta	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 310

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
annual marsh elder Iva annua
Appalachian sedge Carex appalachica
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue sedge Carex glaucodea
blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
bog white violet Viola lanceolata
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
Davis' sedge Carex davisii
DC dewberry Rubus fecundus
Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
drumheads Polygala cruciata
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
false spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum pseudomaculatum
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fourleaf yam Dioscorea quaternata
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
garden dewberry Rubus aboriginum
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
greater poverty rush Juncus anthelatus
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
hogwort Croton capitatus
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
lesser marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum tubulosum
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
Lowrie's blue wood aster Symphyotrichum lowrieanum
Lucretia dewberry Rubus roribaccus
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
midland sedge Carex mesochorea
Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding sedge Carex gynandra
northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand violet Viola affinis
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stolonbearing hawthorn Crataegus iracunda
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped gentian Gentiana villosa
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
toadshade Trillium sessile
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
watershield Brasenia schreberi
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

Also listed as native and introduced here 2

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Kentucky

The typical county is the median of the 120 Kentucky counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Montgomery County and Kentucky
Measure	Montgomery County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	545	426	1,719
Garden-ready natives	235	190	568
Tree	80	—	181
Shrub	27	—	73
Wildflower (forb)	274	—	931
Grass or grass-like	114	—	376
Vine	30	—	85
Fern	20	—	73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Montgomery County.

Bath County, KY 279 garden-ready
Bourbon County, KY 114 garden-ready
Clark County, KY 245 garden-ready
Menifee County, KY 253 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Montgomery County (county FIPS 21173), Kentucky. 545 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method: A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.